However, the reality of what has occurred here is one that is sickening, and the reader can understand the truly horrific nature of what is being described because of the metaphor of the bodies as “fruit” and the description of the warm breeze. Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck . Billie Holiday Lyrics. The speaker then immediately follows the description of the scent of the magnolia’s with the description of the scent of “burnin’ flesh”. While the south was known for its cotton farms along with other crops, the speaker believes the memory of this bitter crop will rise above them all so that the south would be remembered for the murder of innocent people. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. “Strange Fruit” is a song performed most famously by Billie Holiday, who first sang and recorded it in 1939. Strange Fruit: Poem Analysis The poem “Strange Fruit” by Abel Meeropol is very dark and twisted as it paints a mental picture of past events in southern USA. Strange Fruit Lyrics . supplementing the Strange Fruit documentary, visit KQED’s lesson plan database. Strange Fruit Lyrics. Strange Fruit Lyrics: Southern trees bear a strange fruit / Blood on the leaves and blood at the root / Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze / Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees STRANGE FRUIT explores the history and legacy of a song unique in the annals of American music. Primer for Blacks by Gwendolyn Brooks – Gwendolyn Brooks illustrates the necessity of accepting one’s black heritage in this poem. Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh . — Meeropol wrote the lyrics to the closing song from a short 1946 film of the same title, which focused on anti-Semitism in post-war America. BILLIE HOLIDAY LYRICS – STRANGE FRUIT Southern trees bear a strange fruit. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB. This reveals that though the south may have its share of beauty, the atrocities done by the people blot out the beautiful aspects of the south. And the sudden smell of burning flesh! Word Count: 214. Strange Fruit is the first documentary exploring the history and legacy of the Billie Holiday classic. In an extract from his history of protest songs, Dorian Lynskey explores the power of Strange Fruit In the last stanza, there is a use of anaphora in the second and third lines. Amazing analysis! The first reads "Southern trees bear strange fruit. While the people who committed these lynching crimes often considered themselves “gallant” for taking the law into their own hands and “protecting” their women and children, these lines reveal what a ridiculous notion that is. The speaker continues to use the descriptions of the beautiful parts of the south to juxtapose with the atrocities committed there. Magnolias are often associated with the southern states, as they are found there most often. Whereas it is natural for the fruit to hang from trees, it is inhumane to hang bodies from trees. Search. Ellle décrit les lynchages des noirs pratiqués dans le sud des États-Unis dans les années 1930 et 1940. (chanson contre le lynchage). In this stanza, the poet makes use of metonymy for referring to the summer and winter season. A worldwide issue that very few understand. Le "Strange Fruit" évoqué dans le morceau est le corps d'un noir pendu à un arbre. Tabs Articles Forums Wiki + Publish tab Pro. Strange Fruit Lyrics. Analysis Of The Poem ' Strange Fruit ' And ' If We Must Die ' Analysis Of The Poem ' Strange Fruit ' And ' If We Must Die ' 918 Words 4 Pages. The stress on the syllables at specific instances and the sound coming out in this process somehow seem satirical and ironic. In lines 1-4, of the poem, which can be read in full here, the writer creates an image the reader cannot easily forget. 2Blood on the leaves and blood at the root. The poem has a perfect rhyme and the mentioned rhyme scheme runs throughout the poem. 4Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. It protests the lynching of Black Americans, with lyrics that compare the victims to the fruit of trees.Such lynchings had reached a peak in the Southern United States at the turn of the 20th century, and the great majority of victims were black. In the first stanza, “fruit” in the first line rhymes with the “root” in the second line. Every single person that visits PoemAnalysis.com has helped contribute, so thank you for your support. These images burn in one’s mind so as to leave the reader unable to forget the bitter truth of the history of a nation plagued with racism. (And the sudden smell of burning flesh.). The use of the word “bitter” in the last line of this poem connects with the previous descriptions of the bodies and leaves the reader to ponder the bitterness of these untimely and unjust deaths at the hands of those who believed they could take the law into their own hands. Meeropol wrote Strange Fruit to protest against American racism, particularly the lynching of African Americans. In the following stanzas, the rhyming pattern of the poem creates a mechanical kind of sound. Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. Billie Holiday – Strange Fruit. You can read about 10 of the Best Poems by African-American Poets here. To this day it is known as the “original protest song’” and the anthem of the civil rights movement. — A fascinating article about Billie Holiday's relationship with Meeropol's poem. ... the poplar trees. “Strange Fruit” is a poem written by Abel Meerepol. The unending atrocities on black people throughout the year get reflected in the concluding section of the poem. Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze. He saw a specific photograph of a very famous lynching that happened in 1930, and that photo helped inspire … — This is the (graphic and disturbing)  photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in 1930 that inspired the composition of the poem. Si Strange Fruit est LA chanson de Billie Holiday, elle n’a pas été écrite pour elle. Racial oppression: the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner because of race. Blog. But "Strange Fruit" began to turn the power dynamics of that old relationship upside down. United States. Please continue to help us support the fight against dementia. Racial oppression: the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner because of race. Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees . The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABB. [Verse 2] Pastoral scene of the gallant south. Reelin’ In The Years Productions has available for licensing over 20,000 hours of music footage spanning 90 years. Songwriter Abel Meeropol and singer Billie Holliday worked together to produce perhaps one of the most heart-wrenching songs ever written. “Leaves” and “roots” of the strange tree refer to the bloodstained hands of the white Americans and their vengeful heart respectively. More … Ads are what helps us bring you premium content! Southern trees bear a strange fruit. Analysis Of The Song “Strange Fruit” By Billie Holiday. The poet can see the “black body”, a reference to the Afro-Americans, swinging on the tree. Southern trees bear a strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. Your Comment. He is the author of the books “June Cleaver Was a Feminist!” (2014) and “Women Pioneers in Television” (1997). Although simply defined, the impacts of racial … Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. In the Southern part of the united states, black people have been killed and can be seen hanging from blood-spattered trees. Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind. Analysis of Music "Strange Fruit", performed by Nina Simone Juxtaposition Nina Simone sings with a slow, haunting melody. ‘Strange Fruit’ by Abel Meeropol contains three stanzas. From this section of the poem, Abel Meeropol uses irony in most of the cases. How does hearing It refers to black people either dead or alive. Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees . Clearly, it reflects the mood and tone of the poem. Join the conversation by. – Originally published as a poem in 1937 by Abel Meerpool, aka Lewis Allen, a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx, depicts Southern trees bearing “strange fruit.” Strange Fruit (Étrange fruit) Cette chanson est une reprise de la chanteuse Billie Holiday. These words struck the American public, allowing the bitterness of the reality of these occurrences to sink in and sober the American people with the realization of the tragedies that have taken place on their land. Long and drawn vocals to accentuate the sorrow and suffrage of the people A sensation of tire and longing for something to be done right Hope for change fact Each stanza has four lines in it. Elle est devenue le symbole de la lutte des Noirs pour l’égalité. Here is a strange and bitter crop Writer/s: Abel Meeropol. … The images portrayed here are meant to move the reader to his core. The words are listed in the order in which they appear in the poem. The reader can imagine fruit swinging in a warm southern breeze, and that is a natural and beautiful image. — This is the (graphic and disturbing)  photograph of the lynching of Thomas Shipp and Abram Smith in 1930 that inspired the composition of the poem. The tragic effect gets embodiment in the poem by the use of Meeropol’s bitter irony. How does Holiday's performance impact on the meaning of the poem for you? United States. Synopsis. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Meeropol creates a stark contrast between the superficial beauty of American culture and the rotting inside fused with bitterness and ruthlessness in the second stanza. Pastoral scene of ... That was really beneficial! Prezi’s Big Ideas 2021: Expert advice for the new year; Dec. 15, 2020. Last Updated on October 26, 2018, by eNotes Editorial. Strange Fruit: Poem Analysis The poem “Strange Fruit” by Abel Meeropol is very dark and twisted as it paints a mental picture of past events in southern USA. Preview of my Rhetorical Analysis of “Strange Fruit” categories: Uncategorized. It protests the lynching of Black Americans, with lyrics that compare the victims to the fruit of trees.Such lynchings had reached a peak in the Southern United States at the turn of the 20th century, and the great majority of victims were black. Subscribe to our mailing list and get new poetry analysis updates straight to your inbox. Allisa graduated with a degree in Secondary Education and English and taught World Literature and Composition at the high school level. It gathers to a greatness, like the ooze of oil Crushed. LitCharts Teacher Editions. To refer to the bodies as “strange fruit” allows the readers to grasp the sense of injustice. check amazon for Strange Fruit mp3 download these lyrics are last corrected by PrincessC browse other artists under B:B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 Songwriter(s): Lewis Allan, Maurice Pearl, Dwayne P. Wiggins Record Label(s): 2011 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc Official lyrics by Here is a fruit for the crows to pluck. Sign up Log in. Dec. 30, 2020. 6. I needed to find a social justice issue in song or art form, so i decided to choose this song because to me it has to be one of the most powerful songs. Thank you! Lynching in America Strange!fruitestl'une!des!premières!chansonsprotestataires«!protestsong!»quidénonceles actes!racistes!perpétués!aux!Etats!Unis.! Pastoral scene of the gallant south, The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth, Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh, Then the sudden smell of burning flesh. With these lines, the speaker subtly reveals how very unnatural a sight it is to see. More songs from Billie Holiday; More songs about racism or discrimination; More songs usually played last at concerts ; More songs with food in the title; More songs about photographs; More songs from 1939; Strange Fruit Songfacts; Your name as you would like it displayed. ultimate guitar com. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. — Listen to Holiday's famous sung version of the poem. There are many poets who stood up for the cause of the Balck people. The poet presents an image of a tree that bears strange fruit. 3Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze. The poem has a perfect rhyme and the mentioned rhyme scheme runs throughout the poem. Comments: 7. In this line, “Blood on the leaves and blood at the root”, there are two metaphors. Whatever has happened, the speaker has not yet fully revealed, but it has left so much blood that there is blood on the leaves of a tree, and also at the root. What made Meeropol write Strange Fruit? The song was "Strange Fruit," a haunting critique of lynching and race terrorism in the American South. Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze. Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. This line also creates a grotesque image reader will not easily forget. [Verse 1] Southern trees bear a strange fruit. The login page will open in a new tab. The song was first written as a poem by Abel Meerpol and was published in 1937. The speaker ends Strange Fruit with the line, “here is a strange and bitter crop”. Black bodies swinging in the Southern breeze. 0. days: 03. hrs: 37. min: 07. sec. Eighty years on, Aida Amoako explores how a poem about lynching became a timeless call to action. Billie Holiday's 1939 song about racist lynchings redefined popular music. To start off with, sensory details are used a lot throughout the poem. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root. The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth . The History of Holiday's Version Here is a fruit for the crow to pluck For the rain to wither, for the wind to suck For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop Here is a strange and bitter crop. Your Locaton. Struggling with distance learning?  Strange fruit Strange fruit is a song/poem by Billie Holiday which talks about the lynching mob. And the lyrics of “Strange Fruit” still describe them, as eloquently and as powerfully as ever. The "strange fruit" of the poem's title refers to these lynching victims, the gruesome image of "black bodies" hanging from "southern trees" serving as a stark reminder of humanity's potential for violence as well as the staggering cost of prejudice and hate. Here is fruit for the crows to pluck, For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck, For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop, "Strange Fruit". In Strange Fruit, the tree was used to bring death to innocent people, and thus it is a symbol of death. Pastoral scene of the gallant South. These lines refer to the fact that the bodies were left there long enough to rot so that everyone would see that and take them as a warning. The line, “The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth,” is an example of sensory imagery. Firstly, it depicts white people living in southern America. Interpretation and context of Strange Fruit lyrics, analyzed by PhD and Masters students from Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. — A valuable resource that looks at the history of lynching and racial hatred in the Read, Watch, Listen Strange Fruit - Analysis Having viewed and listened... 5. Once Holiday added it to her repertoire, some of its sadness seemed to cling to her; as she deteriorated physically, the song took on new poignancy and immediacy. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root. Rather than softening black music for white ears, Meeropol made it harder; there was a militancy and anger in "Strange Fruit" that would have been difficult for a black songwriter in Jim Crow America to produce without fear of violent retribution. — Listen to Holiday's famous sung version of the poem. It's like a censored movie; you … The use of the term “southern breeze” and the metaphor of the bodies as “fruit” allows for the juxtaposition of something very beautiful with something entirely grotesque. A Woman Speaks by Audre Lorde – In this poem, Audre Lorde upholds the rights of black women and presents ways to improve their lives. The words to Strange Fruit (where the poem was titled Bitter Fruit) reveal the tragic nature of some of the darkest times in American history. Each stanza has four lines in it. check amazon for Strange Fruit mp3 download these lyrics are last corrected by PrincessC browse other artists under B:B2 B3 B4 B5 B6 B7 B8 B9 B10 B11 Songwriter(s): Lewis Allan, Maurice Pearl, Dwayne P. Wiggins Record Label(s): 2011 The Verve Music Group, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc Official lyrics by In the pastoral landscape of southern America, the rotting bodies create a shocking sensation in the poet’s mind. — Meeropol wrote the lyrics to the closing song from a short 1946 film of the same title, which focused on anti-Semitism in post-war America. For the sun to rot, for the tree to drop. In most literature, the tree is the source of life and thus is symbolic of life. (…) Select any word below to get its definition in the context of the poem. You can read the lyrics of Strange Fruit here. (source : wikipédia). Likewise “breeze” and “trees” rhyme in the following lines. The “strange fruit” is another metaphor in this poem. Instant downloads of all 1391 LitChart PDFs Black bodies swingin’ in the Southern breeze. A l’origine, Strange Fruit est un poème « Bitter Fruit » publié au début en 1937 par Abe Meerpool, professeur d’un lycée du Bronx, dans un bulletin syndical des enseignants new-yorkais.Ce poème lui a été inspiré par une photo ou deux jeunes hommes noirs se font lyncher dans l’Indiana. The use of the word “gallant” here is clearly used in satire. Blood on the leaves and blood at the root. Curriculum guides are available on the following topics: Analyzing the Lyrics, History of Strange Fruit, Lynching in America and Reconstruction to Jim Crow. Written by a white, Jewish high school teacher from the Bronx and a member of the Communist Party, Abel Meeropol wrote it as a protest poem, exposing American racism, particularly the lynching of African Americans. 20 Comments; 3 Tags; Southern trees bear strange fruit, Blood on the leaves and blood at the root, Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze, Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees. The song climaxes on the lyric “For the sun to rot, for a tree to drop” and her note falls of as if in defeat. Scent of magnolia, sweet and fresh. "Strange Fruit," written by Jewish schoolteacher Abel Meeropol in 1937, takes a harrowing and unflinching look at American racism. These words describe the bodies of black people who were lynched- apart from the law, with no chance at justice.